Your Right to Know

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A bipartisan coalition in the Minnesota House passed a measure yesterday to
legalize same-sex marriage, setting in motion what could be a turning point for gay rights in the
state.

“All Minnesotans deserve the freedom to marry the person they love, and we are proud to take
this historic vote to ensure same-sex couples have that right,” said House Speaker Paul Thissen of
the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

The dramatic vote came after a sometimes-passionate three-hour debate that culminated when four
Republican members joined a majority of Democrats to pass the measure 75-59. Hundreds of advocates
from both sides had gathered outside the House gallery chanting, waving signs and praying.

Opponents failed in their last-minute push to convince a crucial few legislators that the
DFL-controlled legislature is going against the wishes of a majority of Minnesotans.Opponents are
regrouping to convince senators that marriage is a union between one man and one woman ordained by
God, not any state or federal law. A final Senate vote is scheduled for Monday.

“It’s a divisive issue that divides our state,” she said, wiping away tears as she stood on the
House floor after the vote. “It’s not what we needed to be doing at this time.”

The issue is undergoing a remarkable transformation in the state. Just two years ago,
Republicans — who controlled the legislature then — put a measure on the ballot that would have
inserted into the state constitution a ban on same-sex marriage. Voters defeated the measure,
sending one of the first faint signals in what is becoming a profound national shift on the issue.
Within months, advocates from the other side returned to the capitol to press legislators to make
Minnesota the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage.

In the days after the vote was announced, same-sex opponents pounded Thissen’s office with
calls, at the rate of one a minute.GOP state Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen said he fears that schools will
eventually be forced to teach students about homosexuality in sex-education classes, normalizing
what he considers deviant behavior.

“Think about what’s best for the children,” he said. “Please vote for the children.”

Republican state Rep. Kelby Woodard said the bill sends a terrible message to Minnesotans who
oppose same-sex marriage. “We are classifying half of Minnesotans as bigots in this bill — and they
are not,” Woodard said.